Thursday, 7 April 2011

a reason not to vote Labour

Way forwardThe Parents’ Group is considering options around legal action, I am campaigning with Councillor Jon Hartley to make sure that my Party commits itself to persuing(sic)legal action against Wokingham Borough Council in its manifesto for the May elections if Labour takes control of Reading Council in May.Many of you will have read about the proposal for a University Technical School somewhere in East Reading. Many parents have expressed their concerns about the school, they are uncertain and the information released so far is vague and very unclear. Currently there is no information as to the exact opening date, curriculum or even where it will be based. What is clear is that the situation remains unclear.Wokingham is determined to exclude Park’s children from Maiden Erlegh, I will keep working to ensure that you are fully informed as the issue develops and as the various legal actions come to fruition.

Right. The post reproduces a letter from Cllr Wazir Hussain, not in that capacity but on Reading Conservatives letterhead, sent to Park residents last year, and says that Cllr Wazir Hussain "welcomes" Wokingham's proposals. Read the letter, and read the public statements he has made on the issue, and you will see that he does not. What he does do is press for equitable treatment for Park residents. The chair of Reading East Conservatives, attending a meeting to support Park residents, was publicly called "Wokingham scum" by - Basher McKenzie himself. Who has lied in this post about the position of Cllr Hussain and of the Reading East Conservatives. Which is actionable at the very least. The question should be asked whether Basher's post has been authorised by Reading Labour Party in advance of publication, and if not what is their view. In addition, Basher commits Reading Labour Party, should they take control of Reading Borough Council next month, to taking legal action against Wokingham Borough Council on this issue. Which is opposed by the Conservatives, who favour a new school in east Reading, campaigned for by the Reading East MP, something which has never been supported by Reading Labour, who prefer bashing Wokingham to doing anything about education in Reading. As MP for Reading East for eight years I could NEVER interest the then Labour-controlled Reading Borough Council in campaigning for a new school in east Reading. And I had Labour government ministers willing to work with me, but of course they needed the council to be on side, which it never was. Those in charge of education at the time (Lovelock and then Fatboy Hartley) should answer as to why. And blaming Berkshire County Council will not wash. It was abolished 13 years ago and not a finger has been lifted since. That is why east Reading parents want and need to send their children to school in Wokingham.